Kevin Jousset, or "Air," is a French mixed martial artist currently taking the UFC's Welterweight division by storm. From judo prodigy to two-division champion in Australia, his journey led him to City Kickboxing and now into the Octagon, where he aims to soar.
Born in Bordeaux, the most beautiful city in France, on May 2, 1993, Kevin Jousset is for sure not your everyday MMA fighter—a welterweight with a life story so interesting, crossing judo mats, Scottish adventures, and bright lights of the UFC.
The judo mat greeted this young boy, Kevin, for the first time at the age of four years in Gap, France. At 14, he was already a 2nd Dan black belt, proof of hard work and natural talent. Later, he perfected his skills in prestigious academies, first in Rennes, then in Bordeaux, to finally land in Paris at INEF and INSEP.
CAPTION: Training in judo laid the foundation, but Kevin Jousset's heart and determination fueled his rise to MMA greatness. SOURCE: Instagram He was not competing; he was representing France in the European Championships and the World Cup. A shoulder injury seemed to come close to grounding him, but it proved to be a detour, not a dead end.
At 21, Jousset started a stint in Scotland that lasted one and a half years just to sample the whiskey but to master the English language. In November 2016, he landed in Melbourne, Australia, with a diploma as a fitness coach, and that was his foray into mixed martial arts.
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This is how Jousset found his fight home in Absolute MMA in Melbourne, locking in training with luminaries such as Alexander Volkanovski and grappling wizard Craig Jones. He exploded onto the professional scene in March 2019 at Hex Fight Series 18 with a first-round knockout.
CAPTION: Two divisions, one fighter: Kevin Jousset’s Australian chapter proved that determination and skill know no borders. SOURCE: Instagram He then suffered a loss against Jack Della Maddalena at Eternal MMA 48, but that setback instigated his ambition. In 2020, he crossed the Tasman Sea to Auckland, New Zealand, to join the famous City Kickboxing gym under the mentorship of the highly regarded Eugene Bareman.
2023 was a banner year. First, Jousset etted his name into Australian MMA lore by becoming the first-ever two-division champion in the Hex Fight Series. He seized the middleweight and welterweight belts! Then, his performances caught the attention of the big leagues, with the call from the UFC in August 2023. Owing to getting into the UFC, he pays respect to teammates Israel Adesanya and head coach Eugene Bareman.
Jousset made a statement in his UFC debut at UFC 293 in Sydney, submitting Kiefer Crosbie. He followed that up with a victory against Song Kenan at UFC Fight Night 233. After a medical issue sidelined a fight against Jared Gooden, Jousset faced Bryan Battle but was defeated via TKO. He is next scheduled to face Jonathan Micallef at UFC 312.
He has also been cross-training with Manon Fiorot's team, Boxing Squad, out of Nice, since January 2024, adding another layer to his diverse skillset—always working.
They don't call him "Air" for nothing. It is a pretty cool nickname, but it also reflects those judo-inspired takedowns that send opponents flying through the air.
CAPTION: Air’ isn’t just a title; it’s Kevin Jousset’s reminder to stay grounded in discipline while aiming for the sky in his career. SOURCE: Instagram Jousset saw Eternal MMA as a launchpad, a place where he could make his name known before hitting it big.
At the end of 2024/early 2025, Kevin Jousset's net worth is estimated at around $500,000. His earnings have grown via fight purses, sponsorships, and performance bonuses.
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